Is the great northern land of Alaska calling you to start a business there? There are some things you need to know, including how to pick a name that the state will approve. All states, including Alaska, have rules and regulations about business name selection. The name you select must be available in the State of Alaska. You will need to do a thorough name search to determine which names you can use.
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How to check business name availability in Alaska
Every business in Alaska must have a unique name. That’s why it is recommended to check the availability of a name. Checking name availability in Alaska is pretty simple.
1. Go to the Alaska Secretary of State website
The Secretary of State Division of Corporations website has an easy-to-use search tool to look at different name possibilities.
2. Enter the name you are thinking about
Since you don’t have an entity number, plug in the name you think you want into the name search bar.
3. Hit search
A list of businesses either with that name or a similar name will show up. You may need to do several searches until you can decide on a unique name. Be sure to not add things like ‘LLC’ or ‘Corp’ unless you have formally created an LLC or corporation.
You can always reserve your preferred name until you get that done and then add the formal entity title.
4. Search other records
Alaska state officials advise anyone looking to pick a name should do a thorough search of all licenses to make sure the name isn’t duplicated. A license search can be done through their website.
5. Consider reserving a name
After running an Alaska business name search, you have two options: You can reserve a name or you can register the name. You should reserve a name if you aren’t planning to set up the business immediately.
Alaska allows business owners to reserve a name for 120 days for a $25 non-refundable fee.
To do so, you’ll fill out a quick form and provide the payment.
Again, you don’t need to reserve a name if you plan to officially set up your business with the state of Alaska but if you’re just doing some homework and plan to set up your business later, reserve the name now so it’s not taken when you’re ready.
6. Check domain name availability
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How to name your Alaska business
Now that you know a little more about the business landscape in the state, it’s time to start generating a list of names for your business. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Write down basic details about your business
Start by creating a verbal picture of your business. Think about what your business will offer and who it will serve. Will you sell a specific product or service? Who’s going to buy it? Jot down a few details about your company as a starting point.
Next, start creating a list of adjectives that describe your business. Think in terms of keywords. What keywords would your customer use to find the product or service that you offer? Write them down.
2. Stay away from initials and hard-to-say words
There are plenty of businesses that include initials, like A&J Plumbing, but consider upping your game with something a bit more creative and descriptive.
The same goes for names that are hard to say. If your last name is Stackowaski, for example, it’s not conducive to a business name because it’s too hard to pronounce.
3. Don’t pigeon-hole your business
Be careful not to select a name that limits your company’s potential growth. Think about where your business will be in five, ten, even twenty years, and take that into consideration when creating a name.
A company named Bob’s Bargain Books, for example, is a good name, but what if they plan to sell vintage records and cassettes down the road? The name only refers to books, so when vintage music is added people won’t associate it with the store.
4. Consider using a name generator
At this point, you probably have a list of a few ideas. Rather than brainstorm a bunch of different combinations, why not try a name generator? You simply enter a few of the adjectives that you came up with into the search bar and you’ll get a list of possible names.
Name generators can take some of the hassles out of creating a name. Most name generators will only show you available names too, which is helpful.
Check out some of Namechk’s name generators below:
What kind of business structure is right for your Alaska company?
As you research available business names in Alaska, you’ll also want to think about what kind of business you want to establish. There are a handful of options to choose from, but some of the most common are Sole proprietorship and LLC.
- A sole proprietorship is ideal for small businesses with no employees that want to test their business out. There’s virtually no paperwork to set up this kind of business, which is a plus. However, a sole proprietorship is not a separate business entity, which means you’re financially and legally responsible for any problems that might arise.
- An LLC, or limited liability company, provides a certain amount of liability protection. Your personal assets and your business are separate with this business structure, which means if the business is sued or goes bankrupt, you will not be forced to use your personal cash reserves to bail the business out.
Steps to register your Alaska business
Ready to set up your business in AK? Here’s what you do:
1. File your Articles of Organization
Visit the Alaska Secretary of State website and fill out the Articles of Organization. To fill this out, you’ll need to have an available business name, address, and contact information.
2. Name a registered agent
You’ll also need to name a registered agent. A registered agent is the point-person for your company who will receive important documents like tax notices or legal documents.
A registered agent must be trustworthy and be available during regular business hours when documents are delivered. The business owner can serve as the registered agent in Alaska, or another person or company can be named.
You might decide to name your accountant or co-founder, for example. You can also hire a registered agent service to serve in this role. Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, and Bizee are a few examples. These companies will receive documents on your behalf and notify you of their arrival.
3. Pay the filing fee
Every state charges a filing fee to file LLC formation documents with the government. In Alaska, the cost is $250.
4. Wait for approval
Alaska will review your application and typically provides approvals within five business days. Once approved, your business is officially set up.
Our picks of the best registered agent services
Alaska small business facts
You should pick a name that positions your business in the state’s economy. Before you choose a name, take a peek at some of Alaska’s small business statistics from the U.S. Business Administration:
- Small businesses make up 91.1 percent of all Alaskan businesses, totalling 73,354 entities. The state has 141,147 small business employees, which makes up 53 percent of all the state’s workers.
- The largest share of the state’s small business employment is with firms that have fewer than 100 employees.
- Unemployment was 6.5 percent in 2019, which was above the national unemployment rate of 3.8 percent. This is the last number given.
- Alaska is home to many international companies with 746 exporting goods. Of those, 544 companies were small firms making up 72.9 percent of all international companies and generating 55.5 percent of $4.2 billion in the state’s exports.
- The top four industries in Alaska for small business are health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail and construction.
FAQs
To further help entrepreneurs, check out these frequently asked questions about starting a business in Alaska:
Why is it so important to check on business name availability?
Alaska will not allow two businesses in the state to have the same name. There are many reasons for this, but at its core, it’s to avoid any confusion. For example, if someone plans to sue Bob’s Fruit Stand and there are two of these companies in the state, things can get complicated quickly.
All businesses must have a unique name. And, you can’t just add a hyphen to a name to make it different. Each name must be “distinguishingly different.”
How long is a business name good in Alaska?
Once you register a business name with the State of Alaska, it is good for five years. That includes any portion of the filing year. You can renew it between Oct. 1 and December 31 the year of expiration.
Can a business name be used right away once it’s filed?
No, you can register your business name online in Alaska but it will still undergo a review to make sure it is acceptable. That takes 10 to 15 days.
Does Alaska have any name restrictions?
Yes, there are some name restrictions in Alaska besides the issue of duplication. It’s best to be aware of the state’s restrictions before you make a concrete decision and start planning your advertising.
They are as follows:
– Incorporated or Corporation can’t be used in the name of an unincorporated business.
– An incorporated business must contain either “corporation,” “incorporation,” “company” or “limited” as part of its name. Any of those can be abbreviated.
– A business name can’t have words that indicate it is a government organization, such as a city.
– Names can’t mislead people when it comes to their corporate purpose.
– Names that include vulgarity aren’t allowed.
– Names that connect the business to a trademark, slogan, or another service can’t be registered. You will need to file any slogans or other similar things under Trademarks in Alaska.
– Businesses can’t use work that identifies an internet address or domain name.
What classifies as a “distinguishable” business name in Alaska?
The State of Alaska requires each business to have a distinguishable name in order to register it. For that state, it means several things including:
– The words and numbers are in a different sequence or are completely different.
– At least one keyword is different.
– The spelling is creative or artistic even if the keywords are the same.
– The context of the words is different and the words aren’t identical.
– There could be a difference in how numbers are written or words can contain the plural or singular form.
What resources are available for creating a business in Alaska?
Alaska has a wealth of tools and resources to help you start your business in the right way and set you for success. The Alaska Small Business Development Center is the place to start. It has links to possible loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) as well as downloadable tools and low-cost workshops.
The center also offers no-cost personal business coaching so you will never feel you are on your entrepreneurship journey alone.
The website also has a page of answers to common questions of those considering starting a business. That is a good page to begin your research.
What does it take to get a business license in Alaska?
You could get a license under a doing-business-as name but it would serve you better in the long term to plan out your business, your structure, and your business name. The business structure is the most important as that will determine things like taxation, liability, and other legal issues.
Once you decide what you want your business structure to be, you can register your name with the state. When that is approved, you can then move on to business licensing and apply for the proper license through the Alaska Division of Corporations and Professional Licensing.
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